Abu Rafi al-Qibti

The News of Badr

Abu Rafi was a Coptic slave of al-Abbas, working at the Zamzam tent in Makkah. When Abu Sufyan ibn al-Harith brought back the news of Badr to Abu Lahab, Abu Rafi exclaimed in joy, “By Allah — those were angels!” — and Abu Lahab struck him and pinned him to the ground. Lubaba (Umm al-Fadl) seized one of the tent’s wooden supports and felled Abu Lahab with it; he died of an affliction within seven days. 1 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 3 · pp. 536–537 — Kandhlawi — Abu Rafi rejoices at the news of Badr; Abu Lahab strikes him; Lubaba fells Abu Lahab with a tent-pole.

Bringing the Household to Madinah

After the Hijra the Prophet ﷺ sent Zayd ibn Haritha and Abu Rafi back to Makkah, with two camels and five hundred dirhams, to bring his daughters Fatima and Umm Kulthum and his wife Sawda to Madinah; the journey was made safely. 2 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 369–370 — Kandhlawi — Zayd and Abu Rafi sent to bring the Prophet's daughters and Sawda from Makkah.

The Door of Khaybar

At Khaybar Abu Rafi was a witness to Ali tearing the great door from a fortress and using it as a shield; he said that afterwards he and seven other men could not so much as turn that door over. 3 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 527 — Kandhlawi — Abu Rafi sees Ali rip the door of Khaybar from its hinges; seven men afterward could not turn it over. He was freed by the Prophet ﷺ and lived on in Madinah.